Most voters have chosen not to register with one of the major parties, but of those who did, 28 percent are Republicans and 21 percent are Democrats.

Three Republicans, all of whom are seeking re-election, represent the 9th. Sen. Christopher Connors is an attorney and former mayor of Lacey Township who joined the Assembly in 1989 and moved up to the Senate five years ago. Assemblyman Brian P. Rumpf, a former mayor of Little Egg Harbor, is an attorney who has served in the lower house for the past decade. Assemblywoman Dianne C. Gove, a former mayor of Long Beach, was elected to the Assembly in 2009.

Democrat Anthony Mazella of Bayville is challenging Connors. Democrats Peter Ferwerda of Warren Grove and Christopher McManus, an honors student at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey who lives in Manahawkin, are seeking the Assembly seats.